treating Decking

magicmushroom

Hi all,

I live in a rented house and have been there for 3 years.
There is decking in the back garden, I know nothing of how to look after it so I've never done anything to it in the time I've been living there.

However now is the time for a bit of a garden tidy up so I wondered what would be the best way to give the decking a bit of a makeover?

If it was my own house I'd just rip it up and put a patio down, I hate the stuff.
It's slippery and the paint on it is faded so I'd like to paint it but what would I need to do first?
Can I pressure wash it? And do I need to put anything on it before I paint it?

Thanks

dhog4n

Pop in to a garden centre or a big paint shop and ask for Colourtrend Decking Cleaner. I discovered this a few months ago in a paint supplier (Colourtrend make paints so maybe that's why they had it).

You dilute it in water, wash it on to the decking, leave to work for a short while and scrub off with a deck scrub. It is the only effective way I have found of getting absolutely everything off the decking boards and leaving them without that slippery feel underfoot. Bleach will kill the algae that make it slippery but it won't make it any easier to clean, unlike the decking cleaner.

whizbang

You can treat all the stuff under the sun, but in the end it still needs a damn good scrubbing. No other way around it.
I found a bottle of the cheapest floor cleaner is as good as anything else.

But pressure wash will help.

Then after a few dry days, use a wood restorer/preservative. Don't use ronsh**.

martinr5232

whizbang wrote:

Then after a few dry days, use a wood restorer/preservative. Don't use ronsh**.

What wood restorer did you use ive a pain in the ass with ronseal.

magicmushroom

Thanks guys, that's my bank holiday weekend task sorted!

whizbang

Not sure exactly what i have been most happy with, I know it was Cuprinol product.

Goes on like milk, soaks in easily, brings out a rich wood colouring.

magicmushroom

whizbang wrote: »

Not sure exactly what i have been most happy with, I know it was Cuprinol product.

Goes on like milk, soaks in easily, brings out a rich wood colouring.

Thanks, I'll check out their range

Czhornet

A good power washing will take all the muck off, maybe a quick sandpaper to smooth down any of the hairy bits of wood that curl up with exposure to the weather. Then apply a coat of sand and seal. Finish off with a stain or decking preservative. Don't put any glossy or varnish type products on it or you will be off to A&E after the first shower of rain!!